Gold prospecting and fossicking

Breadcrumb

Gold prospecting and fossicking opportunities in Australia’s Golden Outback draw people from far and wide. To prospect in Western Australia, you require a Miner's Right for each person in your party. This gives you authorisation to prospect on:

Unoccupied crown land that is not covered by a granted mining tenement.

A pastoral lease that is not covered by a granted mining tenement – provided prior notice is given to the pastoralist.

A mining tenement - providing you have permission from the tenement holder.

A granted exploration licence, after having been granted a three-month section 20A permit.

It is important to note that gold prospecting and fossicking cannot be carried out in national parks, nature reserves, on Aboriginal land and heritage sites, within townsites or other classified areas such as cemeteries. You must seek permission from the landowner to enter private property, such as farmland.